It was a challenging, tumultuous season for every Public League football team. The teachers strike forced teams to miss games and put the state playoffs in jeopardy.
The players dealt with the drama gracefully. They organized their own practices to stay fit and ready for football. A group of players from several teams banded together to appear at news conferences at the Daley Center and even went to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office to plead that the strike be settled so they could play football.
Overall, it was a season in which off-the-field issues overwhelmed football. Phillips advanced to the Class 7A quarterfinals, and Simeon made it to the second round of the Class 6A field.
The Wolverines beat Morgan Park in the Public League title game and will face St. Laurence on Friday in the Prep Bowl in Burbank. Expect running back Chau Smith to play a big role in the outcome. He’s a first-team All-Public League selection.
‘‘Chau is our do-it-all guy,’’ Simeon coach Dante Culbreath said. ‘‘He’s just a kid you can stick anywhere, a superb athlete.’’
Smith is joined on the first team by two players who helped spearhead Taft’s resurgence, Dexter Stigall IV and Demetrios Georgopoulos. Stigall played multiple positions on offense and defense in the last several seasons, and Georgopoulos provided a foundation on both lines that enabled the Eagles to be competitive against suburban teams and win the Public League championship in 2018.
Curie offensive lineman Kevo Wesley, a Vanderbilt commit, is the highest-rated recruit on the team. He’s the No. 11 prospect in the state and No. 16 nationally at his position, according to 247Sports.
One sophomore made the second team: Phoenix quarterback and defensive back Jamon Gooden. He’s 6-4 and 190 pounds and started last year as a freshman.
‘‘We game-planned for [Gooden], but he is pretty special,’’ Marine coach John Cano said after losing to Phoenix. ‘‘He just makes plays. We knew what they were running, and we still couldn’t stop it.’’
Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League football team
Selected by a committee of Public League coaches and administrators.
First Team Offense
QB Damarius Johns, Curie, Sr.
RB Tyler Clark, Phillips, Sr.
RB Chau Smith, Simeon, Sr.
WR Dante Reynolds, Kenwood, Jr.
WR Deshun Britten, Morgan Park, Sr.
OL Demetrios Georgopoulos, Taft, Sr.
OL Demerick Morris, Phillips, Sr.
OL Khalyl Warren, Simeon, Sr.
OL Kevo Wesley, Curie, Sr.
OL Gilbert Dubiel, Taft, Sr.
ATH Dexter Stigall IV, Taft, Sr.
ATH Maqael Henderson, Orr, Sr.
ATH Westyn Simmons, Mather, Sr.
K Thomas Melecio, Payton, Jr.
First Team Defense
DL Darion Clay, Phillips, Sr.
DL Ronald Haggins, Simeon, Sr.
DL De’Andre Wilborn, Westinghouse, Sr.
DL Kenyan Butler, Simeon, Sr.
LB Deavion Pierce, Phillips, Jr.
LB Noah Malone, Morgan Park, Sr.
DB Colby Cline, Perspectives, Jr.
DB Eric Thames, Raby, Jr.
DB Donald Dillon, Kenwood, Sr.
DB Ronald Pledger, Phillips, Sr.
DB Jeremiah Rials, Lincoln Park, Sr.
P Hasan Abbi, Sullivan, Sr.
Second Team Offense
QB Kaleb Garner, Kenwood, Sr.
RB Damien Goodman, Payton, Sr.
RB Savian Mitchell, Lincoln Park, Sr.
WR Cameron Pickett, Brooks, Sr.
WR Jaylen Brooks, Curie, Sr.
TE David Loch, Taft, Jr.
OL Mikhel McMullan, Kenwood, Sr.
OL Lamont Pringle, Clark, Sr.
OL Delawn Green, Orr, Sr.
OL Alexis Campos, Mather, Sr.
OL Victor Austin, Harlan, Sr.
ATH Laron Owens, Dunbar, Senior
ATH D’carius Davis, Harlan, Jr.
ATH Trevon Sanders, Clark, Sr.
Second Team Defense
DL Dominic Bradford, Hubbard, Sr.
DL Tristan Wright, Curie, Sr.
DL Waren McPherson, Amundsen, Sr.
DL Davonte Dudley, Raby, Sr.
LB Brandon Crittendon, Back of the Yards, Sr.
LB Ahmad Shipp, Harlan, Sr.
LB Artez Carter, Clark, Sr.
DB Semaj Brown, Morgan Park, Sr.
DB Kayron Owens, Dunbar, Jr.
DB Eric Riley, UP-Bronzeville, Jr.
ATH Jamon Gooden, Phoenix, So.
ATH William Sockard, Young, Sr.
